Vaginal Prolapse - feel like my life is over..

[BNKhash]

I had two children and after my second I got my self a lovely little prolapse.

It’s between stage 1 and stage 2 and apparently not that bad.

I used to do lot of night intensity workouts and weight training and sometime feel really depressed about how the prolapse restricts what I can do.

How do people deal with that?

Hi OP. I am the same, stage 2 cystocele after having DD2. I felt very down at first and it can still feel a bit of a bummer but 6 years on I am ok with it in the main and it is very, very common. It hasn't got any worse thankfully.

In terms of exercise, I did change what I do so I still do weights but tend to use weight machines at the gym so I'm supported and focus on higher reps of lower weights. I go on walks or hike rather than run and I do yoga which I think has really helped but avoid anything that puts too much pressure abdominally (so no planks, for example.)

How old are your kids? Bodies can and do heal even years and years later.
I had a prolapse after no 4 (4 children in 5 years... I'm lucky my womb didn't just drop out!) and I felt horribly depressed about it even though it wasn't a severe grade. But I did my exercises and it did improve slowly. BUT no high impact sports or lifting, no jogging.. it's just not worth it.
A couple of years later I took up Taekwondo (now a black belt).. I just had to find something that didn't make it worse!
Ultimately I did need a hysterectomy (not just for the prolapse.. heavy bleeding) but the prolapse improved by itself over time with pelvic floor exercises.

You need to see a decent pelvic physio. I have the same issue and am able to exercise. I have a pessary for running that supports the prolapse. All is not lost, I promise.

What stage does it need to be for a repair?

Can't it be repaired with surgery or physio?

Life isn't over! How old is your youngest? Have you seen a specialist women's health physio? Mine was worth every penny - with her help I reversed my prolapse so it feels no more than a bit of muscle weakness. I realise this won't be possible for everyone but it can make such a difference.

I supplemented that with the hab-it online programme, which I still occasionally use if I feel a bit weak and heavy. This happens about once/twice a year, normally because I've not focussed on core strength for a bit, am close to my period, and am really tired.

I do weights, yoga and Pilates all with no issue at all.

Hello, I have the same prolapse as you which I got after giving birth to my first. I have been completely symptomless now for 6 months and am not restricted in what I do - heavy weights, hiking, running… no problems. The diagnosis can feel devastating but there are ways to control your symptoms. It can be a lot of work to get back to feeling normal but it is possible.

This is what I did, some or all might be of use to you:

• go to a pelvic floor physio who will give you specific exercises for your prolapse
• download the NHS Squeezy app and do exercises 3-4 times a day (will send you alerts and they only take a minute)
• reformer Pilates 1-2 times a week, a teacher who understands pelvic floor issues will help enormously
• Talk to your GP about getting Ovestin cream which you insert twice a week. Tightens everything up - usually used for menopause
• learn how to poo correctly (look this up on YouTube)
• I did an online education and exercise course called Core & Floor Restore - the facilitator is a woman who has the same prolapse and will teach you how breath and posture affect your prolapse

And for the mental health side of things… (as I know the prolapse can make you feel
pretty down), I found this podcast amazing - https://whymumsdontjump.com/ . It really normalises prolapses and makes you feel less alone. Lots of funny and inspiring stories from affected women.

Other things you can get are a pessary which you or physio inserts and keeps everything in place (can be in for a few months or you can take it out each evening). You can also get surgery but this should be done after you’re done having your babies.

Also while you are healing take it as easy as possible… no weights, running etc until you haven’t had symptoms for a while and have been signed off by physio.

Symptoms will also improve naturally over time. If you are breastfeeding the hormones will mean your symptoms may stick around until you stop.

Good luck - I promise it can get better!!!

Thank you for the responses. I posted and went to sleep. I have an almost three year old and a 12 month old. It happened after the second (after carrying him in a sling for about 4 months on nursery runs)

I saw a women’s physio but in my view there was now value. @Lotsofpots are you in London by any chance. If you could recommend yours. Mine just told me to do Kegels and said just do it in standing and more than three times a day doesn’t make any difference and when I asked about exercise she said you can do anything - just more focused on uplifting my mood by saying you still can do with prolapse pretty much everything you want but not actually helping me navigate exercise or modifications so felt really down about that as well.

That sounds absolutely rubbish. Mine (London based) gave me loads of exercises to build up glute, back, ab strength as all of these support the pelvic floor, as well as life style adjustments. I'll PM you the details.

And definitely check out hab-it. It's cheap and excellent.

Wishing you so much luck.

Thank you for all this

I had mine surgically corrected. That was about 10 years ago now and was definitely worth it, although it’s a big operation and meant about 6 weeks off work.

I had it after my second and feel really lucky it didn’t happen after first (as was never planning more than 2) - can’t imagine having another one if I already have prolapse. I’ve been thinking about how women can actually have multiple without their organs just falling out 😂. And I do know not everyone has prolapse

I understand and was told for the minder levels surgery is not the right approach and even after surgery unless exercised properly it might not fix all

My women's health physio gave me a weightlifting program to do - alongside pelvic floor exercises, she is very passionate about women building strength. Having strong glutes and core supports your pelvic floor. Finding someone good is really key, and you will find that through managing your breath and focusing on really good form that you can exercise symptom-free. And the pelvic floor exercises really, really work. I'm not in London so can't recommend someone specific but my physio changed my life, truly.

I was diagnosed with Rectocele prolapse after my 2nd. And I couldn't see anyone for so long because of covid and i stupidly thought it would go away. I've had it for nearly 4 years and have one appointment at the NHS where they tell me to do more exercises which I do and then they refer me to someone else and then another 6 month wait. Still no pessary. They keep telling me Operations aren't effective. I have to splint every time I poop and if you don't know what that is - don't look it up!

Nobody in my life knows. Not even DH.

I saw one private physio who gave me weight exercises to do. Which I'm confused by! I was doing a boot camp thing recently and carrying heavy tyres and still confused as to whether I'm being stupid doing stuff like that.

Good luck OP. There are Facebook groups too which are helpful.

I really want a 3rd baby but the nurse looked shocked when I suggested it! Can they give you a caecerian if you have prolapse I wonder?

Yes, I felt like I might need to give physio another shot but don’t know how you find a good one. Just did a quick google search so far. Plus thanks you @Lotsofpots

Are you still breastfeeding, by any chance? I was shocked by how much better my stage 2 got once I stopped breastfeeding (I was also doing my prescribed exercises four times a day, every day).

If you’re anywhere near Cambridge I can recommend a women’s health physio. You’re very much not alone, and I also get very depressed about it, it’s wild what our bodies go through.

I had mine surgically fixed too. I've never heard that surgery doesn't work. I just had to wait until I'd finished having kids. But mine was stage 3, I don't know if that makes a difference.

@hellofrommyothername I'm near Cambridge. Would you mind sharing?

Incorrect advice from your physio OP - please get a second opinion. Some excellent advice/suggestions from PP here.

@hellofrommyothername I'm interested too!

My GP told me to check that any physio I found is chartered and also that they specialise in women's health. If you find someone, see if they have good Google reviews too.

@Oppppppp you really shouldn’t have to live with splinting. Have you seen an actual gynaecologist? If not, please ask your GP to refer you to one. Surgery can be very effective for larger prolapses. Mine was large enough that no amount of exercise was going to fix it (although they can be very helpful for milder ones). On having another baby, I got my prolapse after DC1 and had a normal pregnancy and straightforward, vaginal birth with DC2. It caused no issues and didn’t make it worse. They will only operate once you’ve finished having children anyway, but this shouldn’t stop you having a third party if you want to.

Third baby